Jets To Fire Tony Sparano

New York Jets owner Woody Johnson's unhappiness in a disappointing 2012 season is expected to be reflected in the moves he is planning to make.
According to sources, the Jets do not plan to bring back offensive coordinator Tony Sparano (the Jets are ranked 30th in total offense in Sparano's first season in the role) and Johnson has been putting out feelers for ideas to determine the ideal structure of his front office.

Some league sources believe coach Rex Ryan, who will return, would be best served working again with general manager Mike Tannenbaum, which they believe would provide Johnson the type of stability he respects in other organizations led by such owners as the Maras and Rooneys.

Tannenbaum, 43, kept his job in 2008 when coach Eric Mangini was fired after the 2008 season and he subsequently hired Ryan. The Jets are 34-29 in Ryan's four seasons but have missed the postseason each of the past two years.

The Jets were doomed by their unsettled quarterback position in 2012. Mark Sanchez struggled all season and ultimately was removed from the starting spot for Greg McElroy in Week 16, although he'll start the finale after McElroy was ruled out with a concussion. And Tim Tebow didn't have much of an impact after he was acquired in a trade with the Broncos as New York's Wildcat package was ineffective and the team wasn't sure how to use him in other packages.

Ryan and Tannenbaum's four-season run includes two conference championship game appearances and only one losing season -- the type of success that usually leads to other chances.